CLUB ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGEMENT: PREDICTORS OF SOFT SKILLS AMONG HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT STUDENTS

The hospitality industry increasingly demands well-rounded professionals with technical expertise and strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, highlighting the importance of co-curricular activities in developing soft skills. This study assessed the effectiveness of hospitality-related co-curricular activities in enhancing students' soft skills using a descriptive-correlational research design. Data from 210 participants were analyzed to evaluate the relevance, effectiveness, and engagement in these activities. Participants rated their engagement in club activities highly across cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains, indicating significant intellectual, emotional, and practical involvement. Cognitive engagement fostered critical thinking and problem-solving, affective engagement promoted positive emotions and a sense of belonging, and behavioral engagement reflected commitment and collaboration. Soft skills such as self-confidence, social skills, and a sense of responsibility were also rated highly, with self-confidence showing the highest improvement due to club involvement. Regression analysis revealed that higher levels of engagement and participation in club activities when combined have an influence on the development of students' soft skills. However, when taken singly, it is only engagement that predicts development of soft skills with cognitive engagement as the strongest predictor followed by behavioral engagement. Affective engagement also contributed to the soft skills development but not as high as the latter. The study concluded that active participation in co-curricular activities significantly enhanced students' soft skills. It further recommends empirical investigation into the long-term effects of such activities on employability and career success.